A Natural Approach to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The fact that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is so common doesn’t make it any less painful or debilitating. It can have a severe negative affect on your lifestyle and ability to work.

And unfortunately, that sensation of burning, tingling or swelling in your palm, fingers, thumb or wrists is highly unlikely to go away by itself – it may even lead to permanent loss of movement in your hand if not treated. So what are your options?

Traditionally, treatment has relied on surgery, physiotherapy and/or medication but many people are finding that chiropractic treatment provides relief from the symptoms of carpal tunnel - with the bonus that it's less invasive, natural, and often more affordable.

What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve in your wrist is compressed by swelling and the misalignment of tissues and bone.

You may experience weakness in the affected hand and lose some dexterity of your fingers, or notice pain, numbness and tingling in the hands and wrists which could even wake you up at night.

While there may be an underlying medical condition, it is not always easy to identify; most often, it is cause by repetitive motion. 

The most common jobs associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome tend to be computer-related, or in more manual occupations such as manufacturing, construction, hospitality, beauty or the healthcare industries.

When there is no obvious cause, the most likely source is nerve irritation stemming from spinal issues.

Chiropractic Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you are wanting to avoid more invasive treatment options such as decompression surgery or prescription medication, you will understand why alternative  treatments like chiropractic are gaining more popularity as a way of relieving symptoms and improving hand function  (1).

At Equilibrium Family Wellness, our Brisbane chiropractor will evaluate your condition to help identify and address the underlying cause, before prescribing a treatment plan specifically for you. The aim is to correct whatever nerve interference or subluxation is causing YOUR carpal tunnel issues, whether that may be stemming from the spine, arms or wrists - and so help you to enjoy a better quality of life where you can resume everyday activity without being hampered by pain.

Your customised chiropractic treatment plan for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may include the following modalities:

• Arm manipulation: If your CTS is caused by problems in the wrist or arm itself, gentle manipulation may be used to release pressure on the median nerve.
• Spinal manipulation: Misalignment of the vertebrae may lead to problems with the arm, wrist, and hand. Research supports the incorporation of cervical spine manual therapy into treatment, for better outcomes for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (2).
• Soft tissue therapies: Evidence suggests that soft tissue therapies reduce symptom severity and improve functionality, when used in the treatment of carpal tunnel (3).
• Therapeutic stretches and exercises: We demonstrate these so you can then do them at home, to help improve wrist mobility and support the health of the median nerve.

Chiropractic care aims to do more than treat symptoms; instead, we work to find and treat the cause, so real healing can take place.

Looking for relief from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Book an appointment with our Brisbane chiropractor today to find out what treatment might look like for you!

References:

1. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jicm.2022.0542
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1360859224002080
3. https://ejpt.journals.ekb.eg/article_195442.html